USS Los Angeles (SSN-688)

The nuclear-powered USS Los Angeles represented the largest constructed group of vessels for the United States Navy during the Cold War, totaling 62 ships in her class. The Los Angeles class was specifically design for anti-submarine operations against Soviet submarines that would be targeting the ever-important aircraft carrier battle groups in the event of all out war. Built and launched between 1976 and 1996, the class has continued to serve in force for several decades now and is led by the first in her class - the USS Los Angeles (SSN 688).

At its core, the USS Los Angeles is an attack submarine and, as such, the system is armed with a variety of weapon types to accomplish her task. This includes four 21" bow-mounted torpedo tubes for the Gould Mark 48 torpedo. Tomahawk cruise missile and Harpoon anti-ship missile capability is also a part of the deadly toolbox and a host of defensive systems are also afforded the system. These include Mk 60 captor mines, Mk 67 Mobile mines and the Emerson Electric Mk 2 torpedo decoy system. The USS Los Angeles is powered by a single S6G pressurized water-cooled nuclear reactor (based on the D2G) powering two turbines producing some 35,000 horsepower to a single shaft. An auxiliary motor provides 325 horsepower.

Electronics consist of a BPS-15 surface search radar and differing types of passive/active search and attack low-frequency sonar systems. Additionally, the class can also call upon a sonar array, MIDAS and a TB-18 passive towed-sonar array.

The Los Angeles is crewed by over 130 personnel consisting of officers and enlisted sailors. The official top submerged speed of the type is classified though a value of 30 knots is provided by several sources. A top speed of 25 knots surfaced can be achieved. Displacement is reported at 5,700 tons on a light load and over 6,000 tons fully loaded. The SSN 688 is one of only five Los-Angeles-class submarines fitted with a Dry Dock shelters for work with Special Forces underwater units.

The USS Los Angeles was first laid down in 1972, launched in 1974 and officially commissioned in 1976 and continues in active service as of this writing. Some 11 of her class have already been retired and she remains the second most expensive submarine class in USN service after the Seawolf class. Due to the changes offered to later models in the Los Angeles class, these are designated as 688 (original production batch), VLS (USS Providence through USS Newport News) and 688I (USS San Juan through USS Cheyenne.

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Last Updated: 9/12/2009